Blues brace for Crusaders challenge in blockbuster Super final
An unstoppable force will meet an immovable object when the Auckland Blues take on the Canterbury Crusaders in the Super Rugby final at Eden Park on Saturday.
Rugby Sport News
Rafael Nadal's 'motivation' key to his injury management and longevity, says top physio Stephen Mutch
Rafael Nadal's concern for Alexander Zverev's ankle injury was obvious. Suffering from a chronic foot injury himself, the Spaniard knows the agony an injured state can cause. Wearing a worried look, Nadal empathised with Zverev, who was writhing in pain on the Roland Garros clay as the doctor checked on him. A few days after his 14th French Open triumph, the 22-time Grand Slam winner was at the doctor's clinic himself. In the lead-up to the clay-court Grand Slam, Nadal's chronic injury, the Mueller-Weiss Syndrome in medical terms, flared up at the Rome Masters. It's an injury that Nadal has been managing for years and one that kept him on the sidelines for most of last year. But his drive to excel is perhaps unmatched, which is what fueled Nadal's record-making comeback at the Australian Open. He defeated a red-hot Daniil Medvedev in the final to win his 21st Grand Slam trophy -- going past Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. But Nadal's favourite clay season this time didn't begin like it ended. In Rome, the foot didn't cooperate and Nadal lost to Denis Shapovalov in the round-of-16 clash. On top of that, he had a rib fracture. "Everybody knows in the world of tennis that the preparation (for the French Open) was not ideal," Nadal told Eurosport. "I have been outside of the practice courts for one month and a half with a stress fracture on the rib. And then I have the foot that is something that stays there all the time. In Rome, it was very difficult. But I've had my doctor here (at Roland Garros) with me and we played with no feeling in the foot."
Behind the ruthlessness that has defined Steve Borthwick's Leicester Tigers revolution
Freddie Burns has never been shy of voicing an opinion and the affable fly-half, who turned 32 last month, is in his second stint at Leicester Tigers. That makes him a prime candidate to reflect upon how Steve Borthwick has guided a proud club back to Twickenham.
Sam Williams future latest after revealing interest from Super League clubs
Canberra Raiders half-back Sam Williams seems unlikely to make a mid-season switch to Super League as things stand. Williams was released by the NRL club on Wednesday after struggling to command a regular place in the Raiders' side.
Josh Charnley nearing Warrington exit as prospect of mid-season move increases
Josh Charnley could depart Warrington before the end of his contract after clubs were notified he is available for a mid-season move. Charnley's contract with Warrington expires at the end of the current season, with the former England winger set to leave the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Rugby Championship abandons home and away format
The Rugby Championship organisers have wound the clock back and adopted a mini-tour format for at least the next three years saying it will restore "rugby's traditional touring values".
Rugby-Cook Cup shelved, new trophy awaits winner of Australia-England series
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia and England will have a new winners trophy for their rugby union tests after they agreed to shelve the 25-year-old Cook Cup named after the British explorer.